City to consider 2.5 percent raisesThe Russellville City Council Finance Committee tabled discussion of a 2.5 percent cost-of-living increase for full-time city employees during its regular meeting Tuesday. Aldermen asked department heads at the meeting if there was a way to include employee raises without increasing their proposed 2015 budgets. "It's going to be quite a challenge for us to forecast this," Fire Chief John Cochran said. He added that departments are working with...

AG announces plans to start law firm LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Outgoing Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel announced Wednesday that he's starting a private law firm with two of his top assistants when he leaves office next month. The two-term Democrat said he'll be working with Senior Assistant Attorney General Scott Richardson and Assistant Attorney General Bart Calhoun to launch the new Little Rock-based law firm. The firm will also have offices in Jonesboro and Washington, D.C...

Beebe says he's still opposed to gay marriage LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Outgoing Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe said Wednesday he remains opposed to same-sex marriage despite recent rulings against his state's ban, but said he has eased his opposition to civil unions. The two-term Democratic governor said he has shifted on some gay-rights issues, but still believes marriage is defined as a union between a man and a woman. A federal judge last month struck down Arkansas' ban on gay marriage, and the st...

Gov.-elect Hutchinson inauguration plans announced LITTLE ROCK (AP) — There will be a two-day inauguration celebration in Little Rock for Arkansas Gov.-elect Asa Hutchinson. Events begin Monday, Jan. 12 and culminate with an inaugural ball on Jan. 13. An inaugural party will be at 7 p.m. Jan. 12 at Museum of Discovery. An inaugural church service will begin at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday at Immanuel Baptist Church followed by Hutchinson taking the oath of office at 10:30 a.m. in the House Chamber of the...

Ex-Harrison housing director's records subpoenaed HARRISON (AP) — Harrison police have taken records of the city's former housing authority director. The Harrison Daily Times reported current Housing Authority Director Chonda Tapley told the authority's board that police served a search warrant at the agency's office on Thursday for records of former director Derek White. Police Chief Paul Woodruff said the warrant is part of an investigation into a reported theft from the agency. Both Woodru...

Report says Arkansas lottery hampered by mistrust LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas' lottery offers too many games, pays more to its vendors than comparable states and suffers from mistrust from the public dating back to its launch five years ago, a consultant hired to review the games told lawmakers on Friday. Camelot Global Services, the firm legislators hired to review the lottery and recommend ways to boost its lagging sales, said the lottery can make changes that would increase its annual sale...

Beebe formally announces intent to pardon son LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Outgoing Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe took the first official step Friday toward pardoning his son for a felony marijuana conviction 11 years ago, a move he's defended as no different from the second chance he has given other offenders. The two-term Democratic governor formally announced his intent to pardon his 34-year-old son Kyle, who was convicted in 2003 of marijuana possession with intent to deliver. The move kicks off a 3...

Jonesboro police chief wants to hire mayor's son JONESBORO (AP) — Some members of the Jonesboro City Council expressed concern after learning that one of the mayor's sons was in line for a new job that the council agreed to create this week. Council members voted Tuesday to create the position and set a salary scale. Part of the job requires verifying where convicted sex offenders live and notifying neighbors, which caused some aldermen to question whether it was wise to hire a civilian into...

Bill Clinton touts impact of his library LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Former President Bill Clinton said he always wanted his library and museum to show visitors that elections have consequences and encourage them to get involved, a vision he reflected on Thursday as he touted the 10-year-old center as a model for how people can work together to improve the economy. Speaking at the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting, the 42nd president and former Arkansas governor said h...

Dover agrees to postpone electionDOVER — The Dover Board of Education approved changing the date of the district's special election for a proposed millage increase during a called meeting Monday. Pope County Election Coordinator Sherry Polsgrove and commissioners Portia Short and Carol Shoptaw attended the meeting to request the board change the election date after Gov. Mike Beebe set the runoff election for Arkansas Senate District 16 seat on the same date — Feb. 10, 2015. P...

Three file for District 16 seatThree Pope County men filed to run for the State Senate District 16 seat being vacated by Michael Lamoureux. Gregory B. Standridge and Thomas Akin, both of Russellville, and Stan Berry of Dover filed for the seat by the 5 p.m. deadline on Monday. All three candidates are Republicans. No candidates from other parties filed for the seat before the deadline. District 16 encompasses Newton and Pope counties and parts of Boone, Carroll and Van Bure...

Six polling sites for Senate electionThe Pope County Election Commission approved opening six polling locations throughout the county on Election Day for the special election to fill the Arkansas Senate seat being vacated by Michael Lamoureux. “It has to do with safety,” Commissioner Portia Short said, noting that some roads to polling locations are treacherous in inclement weather. The commission approved opening polling locations at Atkins, Crow Mountain, Dover, Hector, Pottsvi...

Berry to seek District 16 State Senate seatFormer State Representative Stan Berry of Dover will be seeking the open District 16 State Senate seat previously occupied by Sen. Michael Lamoureux. A life-long resident of Pope County, Berry brings a wealth of experience in community relations and public education, along with his three terms of service in the Arkansas House of Representatives. He is a Republican. “Having a record of voting for tax cuts and other issues key to my conservative...

Standridge to run for State SenateRiver Valley native, Greg Standridge of Russellville, has announced his candidacy for State Senate District 16 in the Republican preferential primary to be held Jan. 13. Standridge, a small business owner and active community leader, stated he would be honored to fill the seat created by the recent resignation of Senator Michael Lamoureux and that he would like to bring his successful business experience to the state capitol. In addition to be...

Proposed agreement over Fort Smith water issues FORT SMITH (AP) — The Fort Smith Board of Directors is to meet and review a proposed consent decree over the city's violations of the federal Clean Water Act. The city is under a federal mandate to eliminate sewer overflows and discharges into the Arkansas River during heavy rains. Negotiations with the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Justice broke off in September, but renewed in November. The Times Record reported ...

Study: Gay marriages could help economy FORT SMITH (AP) — Supporters of same-sex marriage say legalizing the unions could benefit the Arkansas economy by $24 million. A Nerdwallet report based on data from Gallup and the Wedding Report predicts that couples will spend more time planning weddings and also spend more money — and that marriages would continue to occur, the Southwest Times Record reported. "The most interesting thing to me about the report is the longevity aspect of it,...

Clerk ready for order on gay marriage LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A top official in Arkansas' most populous county said Wednesday that his office is prepared to issue licenses if same-sex marriage returns to the Bible Belt. Pulaski County Clerk Larry Crane's statements came a day after a federal judge tossed the state's gay marriage ban, saying it violated the rights of same-sex couples despite being approved by 75 percent of the state's voters in a 2004 referendum. She put her ruling on h...

Judge drops charges against ex-treasurer LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A federal judge dismissed mail fraud charges against a former Arkansas treasurer Wednesday and directed officials to work on recommendations for a penalty for her previous conviction on 14 bribery and extortion counts. Prosecutors had told the judge Tuesday they would drop 10 mail fraud charges against Martha Shoffner after determining that due to the earlier convictions any additional penalty wouldn't be worth the effort. T...

Gov. Mike Beebe announces intent to pardon 15 LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Gov. Mike Beebe intends to grant 15 pardons. The list released Wednesday does not include Beebe's son — Kyle Beebe — who was convicted of felony marijuana possession in 2003. The governor has said he intends to pardon his son and spokesman Matt DeCample said Kyle Beebe will be on next month's list. The 15 include Timothy Allen of Texarkana, Texas; Bobby Clark of Cabot; Judy Cockrell of Hamburg; Todd Fitzgerald of Sherwood; R...

Horton elected city’s next mayorRandy Horton was elected to become Russellville’s next mayor by a margin that overwhelmed the City Council member and Finance Committee chairman Tuesday night. Unofficial numbers from the Pope County Election Commission headquarters indicated Horton garnered 2,015 votes (76.76 percent) compared to Williamson’s 610 votes (23.24 percent). “I was not expecting that kind of a number,” Horton said after the votes were counted. “I’m not going to sta...